7 Days Bhutan Tour

7 days in Bhutan is the shortest itinerary that reaches Phobjikha - the wide glacial valley where endangered black-necked cranes winter beneath Gangtey monastery - and that single addition changes the character of the whole trip. To the classic Paro-Thimphu-Punakha triangle it adds a day among a different Bhutan: high pastureland, potato farms, pine forest, and a silence you can hear. Between November and February the cranes themselves circle the valley; the rest of the year its nature trails and monastery make it worth the journey alone. You'll still get the capital's icons, Punakha's riverside dzong, both crossings of Dochula Pass, and the Tiger's Nest finale. For many travellers this is the perfect week: every famous sight, plus one place most one-week visitors never see.

Tour Highlights

Buddha Dordenma - 51m tall statue
Takin Preserve Center
School of 13 Arts and Crafts
Dochula Pass - 108 chortens (3140m)
Chimi Lhakhang - Temple of Fertility
Punakha Dzong - Palace of Great Happiness
Phobjikha Valley day trip
Gangtey Gompa - 17th century monastery
Black Necked Crane Center
Weekend Market & Traditional Archery
Tashichho Dzong
National Library & Folk Heritage Museum
National Museum (Ta Dzong)
Rinpung Dzong
Tiger's Nest Monastery hike (2600m to 3100m)
Kyichu Lhakhang - 7th century temple

Duration 7 Days

7 Days Bhutan Trip Cost

7 Days Bhutan Tour — 7 Days Bhutan Trip Cost by group size
Solo Traveler	$1,890
2 Pax	$1,560 per person
3 Pax or more	$1,510 per person

What's included in the cost? What's included in the cost?

Nature of Tour: The tour will be a private tour, with your own guide and a Driver (which means your group will not join any other group).

Free & no obligation — we'll reply within 24 hours.

Your 7 days in Bhutan at a glance

Day 1: Arrival in Paro - Drive to Thimphu

Paro to Thimphu · 54 km · 1.5 hrs · Altitude 2,320m
Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula Pass

Punakha (1,200m) · 77 km · 3 hrs
Day 3: Day Trip to Phobjikha Valley

Punakha (1,200m) · 78 km · 3 hrs
Day 4: Punakha to Thimphu

Punakha to Thimphu · 128 km · 4 hrs · Altitude 2,180m
Day 5: Thimphu to Paro

Thimphu to Paro · 128 km · 4 hrs · Altitude 2,320m
Day 6: Tiger's Nest Monastery Hike

Paro · 65 km · 2 hrs · Altitude 2,280m
Day 7: Departure

Paro · 5-6 hrs hike · Altitude 3,120m

7 days Bhutan itinerary, day by day

Day 1: Arrival in Paro - Drive to Thimphu

Paro to Thimphu · 54 km | 1.5 hrs · Altitude 2,320m

You will be received by a representative from Byways Tours and Travels at the airport and driven to Thimphu.

After lunch, visit Buddha Dordenma, the tallest Buddha statue in the world at 51 meters. Then visit the Takin Preserve Center to see Bhutan's national animal, followed by the Nunnery and the School of 13 Arts and Crafts (Zorig Chusum), famous for traditional carving and freehand art. Here you will find students whose aptitude is more artistic than academic. After lunch, visit the authentic Bhutanese Craft Market. In the evening, stroll around Thimphu City for shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Thimphu to Punakha via Dochula Pass

Thimphu to Punakha · 77 km | 3 hrs · Altitude 1,200m

After breakfast, drive to Punakha Valley via Dochula Pass (3,140m). We stop at the pass to admire the 108 memorial chortens, and if the weather is clear, you will enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges.

Upon reaching Punakha Valley, visit Chimi Lhakhang, also known as the Temple of Fertility, built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (the Divine Madman) in the 15th century. Then visit Punakha Dzong, built in 1637 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, beautifully situated at the confluence of the Pho Chu (Male River) and Mo Chu (Female River). For many years until the reign of the second king, it served as Bhutan's capital. The construction was foretold by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century. The Zhabdrung ordered his architect, Zowe Palep, to sleep before a Buddha statue; in his dreams, the Zhabdrung took him to Zangtopelri (Paradise) and showed him Guru Rinpoche's palace. From this vision, the architect conceived the design, never committing it to paper. The Dzong was named Druk Pungthang Dechen Phodrang, meaning Palace of Great Happiness. Punakha remains the winter residence of the Chief Abbot (Je Khenpo), and King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk convened the first National Assembly here in 1952. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Day Trip to Phobjikha Valley

Punakha to Phobjikha (2,900m) to Punakha · 78 km | 3 hrs

After breakfast, drive to Phobjikha Valley (approximately 2 hours 30 minutes) via Wangduephodrang. Along the way, stop to photograph the reconstruction of Wangduephodrang Dzong, which was destroyed by fire in 2012.

In Phobjikha, visit Gangtey Gompa, founded in 1613 by Gyaltse Pema Thinley, the grandson and mind reincarnation of Pema Lingpa. The temple was later expanded by Tenzin Legpai Dhendup, the second reincarnation. If interested, enjoy a beautiful 45-minute hike from Gangtey Gompa to the valley floor. Then visit the Black-Necked Crane Center, where you can observe these rare birds through telescopes. Two injured cranes are kept near the center. Black-necked cranes are rare migratory birds that winter in Bhutan and return to the Tibetan Plateau in summer. Enjoy lunch in the valley, then drive back to Punakha. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Punakha to Thimphu

Punakha to Thimphu · 128 km | 4 hrs · Altitude 2,180m

After breakfast, drive to Thimphu. After lunch, visit the Weekend Market and watch an archery match if available. In the evening, visit Tashichho Dzong (Fortress of the Glorious Religion), built in 1641 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and reconstructed in 1961 by the Third King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, known as the Father of Modern Bhutan. Enjoy an evening stroll around Thimphu City. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Thimphu to Paro

Thimphu to Paro · 128 km | 4 hrs · Altitude 2,320m

After breakfast, visit the National Library, which houses a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts, followed by the Folk Heritage Museum.

After lunch, drive to Paro and visit Ta Dzong, an ancient watchtower built in 1656, renovated in 1968, and converted into the National Museum of Bhutan. Then visit Rinpung Dzong (Paro Dzong), built in 1646 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. The Dzong currently houses the administrative offices of Paro District and a monastery. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Tiger's Nest Monastery Hike

Paro · 65 km | 2 hrs · Altitude 2,280m

After breakfast, embark on an excursion to Tiger's Nest Monastery (Taktsang). The total distance is 7.4 km (4.5 miles) round trip and takes a minimum of 5 hours. The elevation at the starting point is 2,600m, and the monastery sits at 3,100m above sea level.

A 25-minute drive from the main town of Paro takes you to Satsam Chorten, where the trail begins. The path climbs through beautiful pine forests, with many trees festooned with Spanish moss and occasional groves of fluttering prayer flags. We stop for rest and refreshments at Taktsang Cafeteria, then continue until we see Tiger's Nest Monastery clearly within reach. The history dates back to the 8th century when Guru Rinpoche, a tantric master, flew to this place on the back of a flying tigress—said to be his Tibetan consort Yeshe Tsogyal—and meditated in a cave nearby. The temple was built in the 17th century by Penlop Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgye. This incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer cliff that plunges 600 meters into the valley below.

After lunch, visit Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan's oldest Buddhist temples, built in 659 AD by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo. In the evening, stroll around the charming town of Paro for final shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Departure

Paro · 5-6 hrs hike · Altitude 3,120m

Early morning, drive to Paro International Airport for your departure. Bid farewell to the Land of the Thunder Dragon. Tashi Delek!

What's Included & Excluded

Accommodation in 3* Hotels on twin sharing basis
All Three Meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). Lunch will be served in a local Tourist Restaurant.
Daily Tariff.
Visa Fee.
Royalty and Government Taxes.
SDF (Sustainable Development Fee) of USD 100 per night per person, which directly goes towards free education, Free Healthcare and infrastructure development.
Transportation from receive till drop.
Museum and Monument fee.
Bottle Water in Car.
Sightseeing.
Guide.
Driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time of year to do the 7 day Bhutan tour?

Spring and autumn are the two windows most travellers choose. March to May brings the rhododendrons into bloom; October to December gives the clearest Himalayan views. Both carry the big tshechu festivals — Paro in March or April, Thimphu in September or October. Winter is quieter and colder but the valleys stay open, and the monsoon months are green and uncrowded. Our month-by-month guide breaks it down in detail.

How much does the 7 days Bhutan tour cost?

From US$1,510 per person for three or more travellers, US$1,560 each for two, and US$1,890 travelling solo. Those are all-inclusive figures: the Sustainable Development Fee of US$100 per person per night — US$600 across your six nights — and the one-off US$40 visa fee are already inside them, along with 3-star hotels, all meals, a guide, driver and private transport. Nothing further is payable on arrival.

Is the Tiger's Nest hike included in the 7 days Bhutan tour?

Yes. The hike to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest) sits on your last full day, once you have had 6 nights to acclimatise. The round trip is about 7.4 km and takes roughly five hours including the tea-house stop.

Which places does the 6 nights / 7 days Bhutan tour cover?

Paro, Thimphu, Punakha and Phobjikha.

Can I visit Bumthang on a 7 days Bhutan tour?

Not in 7 days. Bumthang is reached on our 9 Days Bhutan Tour, the shortest itinerary that gets there.

Is the tour private or will I join a group?

Private. You travel with your own guide and driver, and your group is never merged with another.

Refund Terms and Conditions

More than 30 days before arrival: Full refund minus processing fees
15-30 days before arrival: 50% refund minus processing fees
7-14 days before arrival: 25% refund minus processing fees
Less than 7 days before arrival: No refund
No-shows: No refund
All cancellations must be made in writing via email

Note: We recommend purchasing travel insurance to protect your investment against unforeseen circumstances.

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Tell us your travel dates and we take care of the rest — visa, SDF, hotels, guide, transportation and permits.